Improvement in bird-houses



E. A. La BAY Bird-House. v N0 ,159,938, Patented'Feb.16, 1875.

THE cnA Pmc comuoTa-urmas an PARK Pubs, N.Y.

STATES PATENT QFFIGE EPHRAIM A. LA BAY, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA.

IMPROVEMENT IN BIRD-HOUSES.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 159,938, dated February 16, 1875 application filed January 8, 1875.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, EPHRAIM A. LA BAY, of the city and county of Philadelphia and State of Pennsylvania, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Bird-Houses; and I do hereby declare the following to be a clear and exact description of the nature thereof, sufficient to enable others skilled in the art to which my invention appertains to fully understand, make, and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings making part of this specification, in which- Figure 1 is a face view of the device embodying my invention. Fig. 2 is a side view thereof. Fig. 3 is a vertical section in line a; 00, Fig. 1. Fig. 4 is a similar view in line 3 3 Fig. 1.

Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in the several figures.

At present the care of birds is exciting much interest, and every effort is made to retain in our midst those that are serviceable. It is admitted that a well-constructed and ornamental house is most attractive to them, they seeking such structures in preference to inferior ones.

My invention consists in metallic frames, which are adapted to be applied to the openings in the bird house or box, so as to finish said openings, and during wet weather to prevent the entrance of water.

Referring to the drawings, A represents a bird-house, which may be of well-known form and construction, and is provided with entrance-openings B B. 0 represents frames, which are made of shape similar to frames of windows and doors. These frames are secured to the face of the house A, so as to surround the entrance-openings B, thus constituting a finish for said openings, and presenting the appearance of a dwellinghouse.

It will be noticed that the frames 0 do not receive sash-frames, or windows, or doors, or other'means of closing the entrance-openin gs B, but merely edge or finish said openings. The frames 0 also, at their tops, serve to direct rain to the sides of said frames, and thus prevent the same trickling into the openings. Again, the faces of the frame increase the depth of the entrance-openings of the house, and thus in a measure prevent rain, sleet, &c., beating into the house to any extent. Moreover, the frames may be made in numerous and artistic designs, and thus a highly-ornamental house may be produced.

Children may construct bird-houses or birdboxes with but little waste or skill, but impart a satisfactory and useful finish thereto by means of the metal frames 0.

If desired, perches may be cast or other wise connected to the frames, for purposes well known.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

As a new article of manufacture, the metallic frames 0, herein set forth, the same constructed to surround and finish the entranceopenings of a bird-house, substantially as and for the purpose described.

EPHRAIM A. LA BAY.

Witnesses:

JOHN A. WIEDERSHEIM, JNo. A. BELL. 

